Yieldable belt buckle



Dec. 2, 1952 R. c. LEGAT YIELDBLE BELT BUCKLE Filed July 27, 1948 FIG.

FIGB.

FIG-.5.

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INVENTOR.

ROBERT C. LEGAT BY w VAIQNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1952 YIELDABLE BELT BUCKLE Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The G. E. Prentice Mfg. Co., Kensington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 27, 1948, Serial No. 40,859

This invention relates to belt buckles and has for its principal object the provision of an improved yieldable belt buckle.

It has heretofore been proposed to make belts stretchable to a limited extent either by forming the body of the belt or strap with an elastic construction, or by including an expansible unit in such belt body. One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a stretchable belt in which all or a substantial portion of the stretch is obtained from the belt buckle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved belt buckle having a yieldable strap anchoring means to render the entire belt stretchable, even though an ordinary nonstretchable leather strap may be attached thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and neat construction for belt buckles, which will enable the latter to be readily manufactured from sheet material.

Other objects of the invention, as well as its advantages and novel features of construction, Will become apparent after a perusal of the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the buckle end of a belt embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the buckle per se, the bucklebeing partially broken away to show its construction more clearly; Fig. 3 is a. back plan View of the belt buckle; Fig. 4 is a rear end view ofthe belt buckle; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 is a plan View of the blank from which the buckle is made.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I0 indicates generally, the buckle for the strap II. At its attached end, the strap I I is provided with a folded or looped portion I2, which extends over the top of buckle I0, around the strap or slide bar I3 of such buckle, and then under the buckle to a point in rear of the latter, where it is 'attached to the body of the strap.v II, as by the usual snap I4. It will thus benoted that the looped strap portion I2 of the belt has a length substantially greater than one-half the length of the buckle I0 and is secured to a strap or slide bar I3 located intermediate lthe ends of such buckle.

The body of buckle I0 is made from an integral piece of sheet metal of any desired type. As is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, thejibuckle body includes a U-shaped piece of metal which 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-178) forms the outer surfaces of the buckle and which is composed of two leg portions I5, I6 and a front bar portion Il. During the blanking out operation, the leg portions I 5 and I6, which form the sides of the buckle, are shaped into a channel form, and the front bar portion Il is shaped to give it the configuration desired in the iinished buckle. As a result of this initial shaping of the blank, the portions I5, I6 and I'I forming the U-shaped piece will be oiset with respect to the remaining portions of the blank. Connected to the front and rear edges of the front bar portion I'I, are extensions I8 and I9, which are bent inwardly along their lines of connection with such front bar portion until their under surfaces are in engagement with the under surface of the front bar portion I 'I, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Connected to the outer side edges of the side portions I5 and I6, are extensions 20 and `2|, respectively, which are bent or folded inwardly to form in each side of the buckle, a longitudinal chamber 22 extending the entire length of such side portions I5, I6. At therear ends of the side portion I5 and its associated extension 20, are ears I5', 2U respectively, which are bent towards each other in rounded fashion to close the rear end of the chamber 22 formed by such portion I5 and extension 20. In a similar fashion, the ears I6', 2| provided at the rear ends of the side portion I6 and extension 2|, respectively, are bent to close the rear end of the chamber 22 formed by the latter (note Fig. 4 of the drawings).

Intermediate the'two side portions I5 and I6 and adjacent to the rear ends thereof. is a rear bar 25 constituted of a ilat strip of sheet metal which is integral at its ends with the inner edges of such portions I5 and I6. As is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the rear bar 25 is depressed with relation to theside portions I5 and I6, so that it extends across the buckle approximately midway of its thickness.

Spaced from the front bar portion l1 in the forward end of the buckle, is a tongue bar composed of a depressed strip 26 integral at its ends with the inner side edges of portions l5 and I6 and extensions 21 and 28, the latter together with strip 26 being bent to form a round transversely extending tongue bar. The extensions 21 and. 28 are provided with central cutouts 21 and 28', respectively, which in the formed condition of such extensions, provide a means for maintaining the tongue 29 centered on the tongue bar.

It will be noted from Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, that the side portion I5 and its associated extension 20 are so formed that a longitudinal slot 30 extends from the rear bar 25 to the tongue bar 26. From the rear bar 25 to the rear ends of portion I5 and extension 20 and from the tongue bar to the front bar portion I'I, portion I5 and extensionZ'are formed to entirely close the chamber" 22 in such regions. fashion, the side portion I6 and its associated extension 2l are formed to entirely close the chamber 22 formed thereby in the regionsrbef. tween the rear ends of such parts andthe rear bar 25 and between the tongue '.barv and thefront. bar portion I1 and. to provide l a longitudinallyA extending slot 30 between the rear bar 25 and the tongue bar. portions of the buckle serve as guides for the slide bar I3 Whose outer ends extend through such slots into the chambersr22, 22 formed in the sidesof the` buckle (noteiligj zfoffthe drawings). The-'slidebar I3:is;provided1at its ends withforwardly projecting;v legs-z 32;` 32" which` ride in .the

chambers 22 jduring'the slidable movement of the slide i bar I3 and cooperate with the walls of suclrfchambers-to, maintain the slide bar ISgcorrectly positionedon the-buckle during its; sliding movements.' This correctpositioning ofthe slideV bar I3asf well as its inadvertent removal from the buckle are assured by means ofthe up-turned rear edge portion f 3 I f thereof which c-oaetsY with theinner sides of the; side portions I5 and IS- and the' leg Vvportions 32,y 32 -to :accomplish such results; The slidefbar: I3 is normally maintained in a forward positionby means-,of aA p air.l of` springs 33;v 33 seatedi ata their' rearh ends in thecl-osed pockets, formedat therear. ends offchambers- 22;

22.fand bearing with' their front-ends against the; outer end portions ofthe-:slidebar' I3- in theV chambers 22, 22;

It will, beV understood from the foregoing, that in'thenormalpositions of the parts, the springs 33; 33 willlmaintain the strap or slide bary I3 in itsforward1or advanced'position with the front foldededge of the beltfportion I2"engagingthe- Thesaidiedge of the belt por-V tioni I2v is provided,` with. a cut-out 311' in theY region :of the'tongue 29 to'permit such edge to'v engage'throughout its'length with-the tongue bargZB; (noteFig. l'oi'the drawings). In' this advanced. position ofthe-slideV bar I3; thelegs` tonguey bar 26';

32;,32thereof, will be located inthefclosed p01- tions lof chambers 22, 22'in'advance of the Vtongue bar 25, as is shown more clearly in Fig, .2-.offthej drawings. When anyr stress is exertedcn the beltstrap II: tendingv to move I the-slide bar i5 rearwardlyagainst the: resilient force of springs 33` 33; such barv I3 vdil slide rearwardly inthe slots: 3), 351 to a-position where thebuilt Vup force inthe contracted rsprings will Ibalance the force on thecbeltstrap, Thel slidebar i3 `can-bein,L

tracted'approximately one-'half an inch before'- the-'springs 32, 33 are contracted to the-extent that theybecomein effect, solid stop members. Thiszrange of in'ovementis believed tobe sufficientrto'takey care of all'norrna-l requirements of "needed stretch in the 'beltffor a particular ad'- justrnent or the belt on the user, but may increased orf decreasedrby varying the constructionfofvthe springs. As.- seonia-s such need for stretch .has'ceasednthe stored up energy in the springs'B; 33 will advance `the slide bar I3 until the-folded frontxendrof belt portionagainenn gages the tonguebar 2li-.orto some intermediate position in the slide bars range of movement,

In a similark The slots 30 formed inthe side where the energy in springs 33, 33 will balance any remaining force on the belt strap.

It will also be seen from the foregoing, that the buckle of applicants belt, although made from sheet metal, is attractive and neat in appearance, and gives the visual appearance of a buckle made in the ordinary manner. At the same time, the buckle is sturdy in .construction and willf'efliciently perform its functions'forv a long period. Be cause of the fact that the buckle is made of sheet metal material, it can be made at relatively low costvandlin large numbers by simple blanking and Vforming operations.

While'zhave described and illustrated a preferred form .of myinvention, it will be evident to thoseskilled-in the'v art, that modifications and changes may. bemade therein Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. VAsselfV-conta-in'ed/belt buckle unit comprising a .body-'portion .having a. pivotally; mounted buckle;` tongue, said body portion being madeof yan inY tegral pieceof; sheetmetal and -including a .pair

integrally connected at its ends-4 with the rear ends of said side portions so as vtobe positioned within the looped'end of the strap-connectedto such buckle; stop means provided' on said sidefportions between said front-,and rear'bar portions and in spacedrelation thereto, each ofsaid side-1 portionsLbeing providedgwith a--longitudinallyextending slot opposed to the slot of the otherf-side portion andiexteniding,fromsaid'stop means to said rear barportion, each of-.saidside portions having closed .rear ends-and being substantially-,-

closed along their opposed'inner. edges from said stop meansto sadfront bar portion, a transversestrap; bar to bepositioned within such looped strap end located between said stop means and said rearbar portion, the-.ends-ofsaid strap bar extending directly. through such slotsA into Vthev interiorsl of said side portionsrtand being; slidably Y movable in saidslots longitudinally,v of saidside portions` between f said .stop Vmeans :and said f rear :barportion, Asaid stop meanslimiting the forward: movement of said-strap barftoward said vfront-'barv portion, Asaid strap barbeing provided-on its^in Wardly projecting ends with longitudinally exe' tendingl legsfof substantial length located whollyl a Withinthe interiors ofsaidsideportions and during thejsliding movementsosaid strap bariaway from and toward said stop means coactingwith portions: of the interiorV Walls of said sideiportions spaced from' said ,slots .to maintain'. saidA strap bar 5 correctlyl positioned on `the Ybucklezduringits slid# ing/movements, and helicalsprings wholly posi-V tioned Within said sidelportions` between; said.

strap barA and. therear endY of' said buckle andnormally maintaining/said strap barin en'- gagement with said stopjmeansand yieldingly resistingslidingmovement of Vsaid strap bar away from said stop meanspand 'towardsaid .rearr bar portion, said .springs each'` having, a .lengthi less than; the1distance between Said. stopnmeans and4 .therear'ends of said sideportions'andtbeing seated at one end on the closed rear ends of said side portionsand atth'e other end on the inwardly projectingends-of 1 said strap bar.

2. -Afself-containedbelt bucklel unit comprising a body. portionmade ofi an'integral pieceof flat sheet metal and including a pair of substantially tubularly-shaped side portions forming the sides of the buckle, a front bar portion integral at its ends with the front ends of said side portions and forming a rest for the free end of the buckle tongue, a rear bar portion integrally connected at its ends with the rear ends of said side portions so as to be positioned within the looped end of the strap connected to such buckle, and a tongue bar integrally connected at its ends to said side portions at points located between said front and rear bar portions and spaced therefrom, said front bar portion consisting of a flat strip portion having a pair of longitudinal extensions integral with the side edges of said strip between said side portions and folded toward. each other under said strip, said tongue bar consisting of a at strip portion having two spaced longitudinal extensions integral with each side edge of such strip between said side portions and bent to form two spaced tubular portions, -a tongue pivotally connected to said tongue bar between the spaced tubular portions thereof, and each of said side portions being provided with a longitudinally extending slot opposed to the slot of the other side portion and extending from said rear bar portion a distance not greater than the length of the space between said rear bar portion and said tongue bar, each of said side portions having closed rear ends and being substantially closed along their opposed inner edges from said tongue bar to said front bar portion, a transverse strap bar to be positioned within such looped strap end located between said tongue bar and said rear bar portion, the ends of said strap bar extending directly through such slots into the interiors of said side portions and being slidably movable in said slots longitudinally of said side portions between said tongue bar and said rear bar portion, and helical springs wholly positioned within said side portions between said strap bar and the rear end of said buckle and normally maintaining said strap bar biased toward said tongue bar and yieldingly resisting sliding movement of said strap bar away from tongue bar and toward said rear bar portion, said springs yeach having a length substantially less than the distance between said tongue bar and the rear ends of said side portions and being seated at one end on the closed rear ends of said side portions and at the other end on the inwardly projecting ends of said strap bar.

ROBERT C. LEGAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 229,087 Brazeal June 22, 1880 1,423,218 Hurst July 18, 1922 1,427,960 Leonard Sept. 5, 1922 1,594,962* Jacobs Aug. 3, 1926 1,678,417 Beck July 24, 1928 1,693,093 Mix Nov. 27, 1928 2,010,612 Stafford Aug. 6, 1935 2,087,151 Hornberger July 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 740,719 France Nov. 21, 1932 

